4" 629 no dash w/ German Proofs - your thoughts

[leftyk82]

Appealing to those men and women who would know much more than I, which doesn't take much......

Is it commonplace to find a desirable version of a revolver with foreign proof marks? I came across this 629 no dash and found out what the proof marks mean but simply hadn't seen one like it before.

 

[montezumaz]

Proof House = Ulm - "definitive nitro proof"

 

[Absalom]

Nice. I wouldn't say "commonplace", but you see these once in a while. Several years ago a guy paid me more than I thought the gun was worth for my Model 19-5 because I had the Ulm proofs on it.

 

[k22fan]

[...] Is it commonplace to find a desirable version of a revolver with foreign proof marks? [...]

My guess is that the more appealing the model was to U.S. military personnel stationed in West Germany the more of them you'd find with German proof marks.

Other wise I can only say that not long ago an 8 3/8" 629-1 with German proof marks was offered to me. I thought the proof marks were just a slight detraction from such a common gun. I did not buy it for other reasons. The sellers said that he and his dad used to target shoot together with it and an 8 3/8" nickeled 29-3. He gave me my choice at the same price. I bought the 29-3 because I already had one in stainless.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Made for export and has found its way home. I assume this is a no-dash 629 since it has recessed chambers - is the barrel also pinned?

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[leftyk82]

Interesting feedback so far. One thing I failed to mention is that this one was a 4 inch. I believe now the 4 inch 629 no dash is desirable, but I'm not sure if it was the same back in the early 80's.

 

[29aholic]

I have to say that is the first 4" P&R 629 I remember seeing.

Not all guns shipped to Germany got proofed. I did a Karma letter for another member once and his 29-2 shipped to a US base PX in the 70's. It did not have proofs on it. I tried to buy another 29 that had proofs on each chamber.

 

[Simson-Suhl]

The date proof mark IC=1982. Montezumaz is correct in the Proof House is Ulm. A few years ago a local gun shop had a new in the box S&W model 66, 2 1/2" Combat Magnum with the "WALTHER" banner etched on the left side of the frame. It is my understanding these were made for the German market.
In 1968 Germany revised it's proof laws that only firearms intended for the German market had to be German proofed. The post WW2 Mauser HSc pistol has FBM stamp which is a voluntary proof mark applied by Mauser for the pistols imported to the US of A. Of course I own H&K P 7 pistols, and Walther's made after 1968 and they are proofed at ULM. So nothing in engraved in stone I suppose.


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[elm_creek_smith]

I bought a pinless 4 inch Model 629 at the Mainz Rod and Gun Club in 1982. The German distributor was WISCHO, and it had German proof marks. Unfortunately, I don't have it anymore so I can't shed any more light on the subject. The first time I fired it, the barrel rotated!

 

[Walter Rego]

I found a Model 31-1 at a gun show a couple of years ago that has Belgian proof marks on the frame, cylinder & barrel flat along with the WISCHO European importer marking. I assumed that it made it back to the US with a returning serviceman who bought it at some Rod & Gun Club or PX. It came in its original S&W factory box with all paperwork but there was nothing to indicate that it may have been intended for a non-US market.

 

[Tom_R]

The 4" 629(no dash) was only made for about 8 months and then the 629-1 came out which did away with pinned barrels and recessed chambers.

I saw one in a LGS two weeks ago, nice condition , beautiful grips. Except someone Ported the barrel!

I threw a fit and started throwing my arms up in the air. People were like, what is wrong, what is wrong?

I explained how rare the gun was and how the value on it was ruled by porting it. A guy started asking me questions and explained that it would be a great shooter, and the original grips themselves were worth at least $150. He asked me if everything else checked out, and we did the normal function checks, and it looked real good. He ended up getting it for around $700.

I am lucky enough to have an example myself that I picked up a few years ago.

I have the presentation case and papers for it:



Pinned and Recessed:



I also have a set of Keith Browns on it now:



Because of its rarity and because I have the Keith Browns on it, it doesn't get shot.

I have a 629-1 that gets shot.

 

[SS57]

Tom R I have the twin to your no-dash 4 inch, w/o the box and other goodies though. It is tight and right and very cool. Lefty your 629 is very interesting and one you can treasure.

 

[Model39]

My Model 16-3 With West German Proof Marks

(*Been Shown Before*) I bought this gun out of the Shotgun News about 30 years ago and was pleasantly surprised when I saw the West German Proof Marks. The factory letter confirms the shipment to West Germany in 1972. Proof marks put on import guns is a common practice. On this gun, I believe (just a guess) that someone stationed in West Germany bought it and brought it back home to the USA. I believe having the proof marks on your gun makes a special gun even more special.

 

[leftyk82]

SS57 and Model39 have hit on some of the points that make this 629 special to me.

According to the factory letter it left S&W on my wife's birthday and was exported to AKAH in Hunstig, still operating today.

With very close ties to Germany, and that I have always sought a 629 4" no dash.......this one is very special.

 

[Absalom]

On my 19-5, the good folks in Ulm were a bit more circumspect and hid the stampings in the yoke area.

 

[bgrafsr]

I have a Model 18-3 with German stamps on it and the importer's name is stamped on the grip frame under the stocks. The front sight was modified into a "Patridge" style too.

 

[heron163]

I bought a 629 from the Bremerhaven Rod and Gun Club in 1985. It has the same proofs... It was re-proofed by S&W when it came back to the states - there was a question about the steel used in it construction. I still have it...

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Tom R I have the twin to your no-dash 4 inch, w/o the box and other goodies though. It is tight and right and very cool. Lefty your 629 is very interesting and one you can treasure.

Make that triplets! SS, I have one of your description. Billy

 

[SS57]

SS57 and Model39 have hit on some of the points that make this 629 special to me.

According to the factory letter it left S&W on my wife's birthday and was exported to AKAH in Hunstig, still operating today.

With very close ties to Germany, and that I have always sought a 629 4" no dash.......this one is very special.

My grandparents are from Germany so German proof marks on the 629 would only enhance its value to me. You are fortunate.

 

[leftyk82]

I have to say that is the first 4" P&R 629 I remember seeing.

Not all guns shipped to Germany got proofed. I did a Karma letter for another member once and his 29-2 shipped to a US base PX in the 70's. It did not have proofs on it. I tried to buy another 29 that had proofs on each chamber.

By this, do you mean you haven't seen a proof marked 629 4" before?